Lubricant feeding means



Feb. 26, 1963 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 T. R. THOMAS LUBRICANT FEEDING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

INVENTOR YZ OMAJ/EF/OMAS.

BY: g a

ATTO R N EY Feb. 26, 1963 1-. R. THOMAS LUBRICANT FEEDING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 n IP1 I lul lllll l" w% m m 1H N N. R w 0 m W Z 2 2 y M 0 W 75 Av! n z Feb. 26, 1963 T. R. THOMAS 3,078,959

LUBRICANT FEEDING MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1959 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 INVENTCR THoMA sRF-mM/I.

- ATTO R N EY 1963 T. R. THOMAS 3,078,959

LUBRICANT FEEDING MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 N v i: i i A +,u F

L-F k4 I N V EN TOR. 7790/1/15 l'z? 77/0/1/75.

United States Patent Ofiiice Research Corporation, Boonton, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 21, 1959, Ser- No. 841,394 11 Claims. (Cl. 184-55) The present invention relates to lubricating systems and it particularly relates to a spray application of coolants and lubricants to cutting and grinding operations or for the application of oil or lubricants to chain gears and other devices to be supplied with lubricant.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a central control unit which will serve to prepare and enable transmission of a spray or mist of a coolant-lubricant composition which may be conveyed to or appliedto various types of mechanisms and particularly chain gears at suitable locations remote from the source of the lubricant.

Another object is to provide a novel system which will be readily adaptable to a wide variety of types of standard water base coolants and which will be readily adapted to various types of viscosities of oil and which will permit remote or adjacent application of a spray of coolant and lubricant in cutting and grinding operations, and to applications to chain gears in a wide variety of mechanical elements.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given byway of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most suitable to provide a central combination air trap and filter unit which will receive compressed air from a standard source and in which there will also be incorporated a pressure regulator including an air pressure reduction and liquid pressurizing device to form the spray or dispersion of the coolant and/orthe lubricant .or oil for remote application.

.1 The central source will receive the compressed air supply from a shop source and the feed of such air will be controlled by valve means desirably of a solenoid type with duplicate tubing lines then conveying the air and'the liquid from the control unit to the jets from which the spray is applied to the cutting or grinding operation or to the chain gears or other mechanical element.

In one embodiment of the inventionthe device has a metal or cast head having recesses which receive two transparent cylinders closed at their bottom ends, one of which serves as an air cleaner and moisture separator and the other of which serves as a liquid reservoir. The head has a connection for receiving air under pressure and it has separate air and liquid outlets to feed into the two- 'pipe system which will lead to places where the coolant wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

3,078,959 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 In the drawings wherein like reference characters de-. note corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of one form of spray unit partly sectioned more clearly to show the interior construction thereof, taken upon the line 11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken upon the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View taken upon the lines 53- 5 of FIGS. 2 and 3 of the head of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken upon the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical offset sectional view taken upon the line 7-7 of FIG. 3, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken upon the line 8-3 of FIG. 3, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic layout of the fiowdiagram showing the flow of liquid and air through the apparatu of FIGS. 1 to 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of an outlet connection by which a spray is directly applied to a place of grinding or cutting or to a mechanical element to be lubricated.

PEG. 11 is a diagrammatic layout showing the application of the control unit or the present invention to several spray outlet fittings by separate liquid and air outlet tubing connections.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a head A which carries the body B serving as a reservoir. The reservoir B carries a sight glass C.

The reservoir housing B also carries the moisture separator D and the lower liquid reservoir unit E.

The air cleaner and auxiliary reservoir unit E are provided with the drain or clean-out plugs F and G. The unit, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is provided with an air inlet H and an air outlet 3 and with the liquid outlet K.

There is an electric conduit connection L (FIG. 3).

The head A is provided with a gauge M and a pressure regulator adjustment N associated with a spring pressed diaphragm control Valve P (see FIG. 7). v

The head A is also provided with a solenoid control valve Q (see FIG. 8).

The coolant or lubricant filler cap R permits filling of the reservoir B. j

The air filter S (see FIG. 1) will separate moisture or undesirable material that flows in through the air inlet H and the coolant filter T (see P16. 1) will filter out impurities in the coolant or lubricant.

Referring to the diagrammatic layout of FIG. 9 the flow diagram shows the air inlet H supplying air to the container or moisture separator D which has the filter S and the clean-out plug F.

The air will flow as indicated by the arrow on the conduit U to the diaphragm regulator valve arrangement P. It will then pass to the solenoid control valve arrangement Q past the gauge M and it will flow into the chamber V at the top of the reservoir B where it will place the lubricant or coolant in the reservoir B under pressure.

2- means of which the mist is discharged onto the cutting or grinding operation or onto the mechanical element.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown the typical outlet unit Z having a conduit connection at AA from the liquid connection K and an air connection BB from the air connection I of the unit shown in FIGS. 1-8. Thus, the air and liquid will then flow through the concentric double tubing unit CC to the spray jet nozzle DD which will apply the mist or spray directly onto the place where it is to be applied with the liquid usually being in the central passageway and the air being in the passageway surrounding it. The adjustment EE permits regulation of the liquid flow through the liquid inlet AA.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a head A which is joined to a reservoir casing or housing B by means of bolted connections such as are indicated at 28, (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4).

The gaskets 21 and 22 as indicated in FIG. 5 will seal the head A in respect to the top of the body B.

The bottom 23 of the reservoir will have gaskets at 2-4 and 25 sealing it to the transparent cylinders 26 and 27 which respectively form part of the air separator unit D and the lower liquid filter unit E.

The drainout plugs F and G are mounted upon the bottom closures 23 and 29 of the cylinders 2d and 27 (see FIG. 1).

The air will enter through the connection H from a suitable air compressor or source of compressed air which is connected into the tapped opening 34? in the head.

The air will then flow into the dome 31 and into the space 32 closed by the gasket 21 and down through the tube 33 which extends as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5 through the entire reservoir and its lower end 34 (see FIG. 1) is sealed by means of the gasket 35 to discharge the air into the chamber 36 inside of the cylinder 26.

In this space the air will be held by the upper gasket 24 fitting in the recess 37 and the lower gasket 3% held .in position by the upturned lip 43 of the bottom closure 28.

The bottom closure 28 is held in position by the interiorly threaded plug portion 399 which screws onto the threaded end 4% of the air tube U. The plug 39 has the knurled head screw 41 so that it may be opened to remove any water which collects in the bottom of the chamber 36 which will flow through the opening 42.

The tube U is encircled by a coil spring 44 which presses against the cap 45 which acts as a bottom closure for the ceramic filter element S.

The air flowing into the chamber 36 will pass into the filters and into the opening 46 in the tube U and then flow upwardly (see FIGS. 1 and 5).

The upper end 47 of the tube U (see FIG. 5) is threaded at 48 into the bottom of the head A, and the air will then flow through a transverse passageway 4-9 (see also FIGS. 3 and 7) which is blocked by the plug 50, in the side of the head A. The air then liows into the chamber 51.

The air then may flow through the opening 52 encircling the extension 53 which moves with the diaphragm 54. The diaphragm 54 has a central stiffening plate 55 with an upturned nipple 56 which receives the lower end of the coil spring 57.

The coil spring presses the diaphragm downwardly against the pressure of the air and the upper end of the v coil spring is held against the plate or dish 58.

The amount of pressure exerted by the spring 57 may be controlled by the adjustment screw 59 which is held 'by the cap 60.

a central recess 64 which receives a compressed coil 'spring 65 which encircles and which presses upwardly on the downwardly depending portion 66 of the valve 67 carrying the plastic annular seating ring 68.

This annular member as. will be biased upwards by the spring to contact the valve seat 69 on the insert 70 which is fitted into the recessed portion 71.

This element 70 will have the central passage 52 into which projects the extension 53.

The passageway 51 will establish communication with the chamber 72 below the diaphragm 54 which is held at its peripheral edge '73 against the shoulder 74 by the depending circular cylindrical portion 75 of the cup 76 which is threaded into position at 77.

This cup has a central tubular portion 78 which receives the coil spring 57 and also a telescoping sliding bearing for the upwardly extending cylindrical guide member 79 extending upwardly and integral with the stifiening plate 55.

The pressure of the spring 57 may be adjusted by the screw 59 to achieve the desired pressure of air in the device as it passes from the conduit 49 and the chamber 51 into the chamber 72.

The extension 53 will contact the projection 80 of the member 66 inside of the annular plastic valve seating member 68 to unseat it if the pressure of the air is too low so as to permit such air to flow freely through the annular passageway 52 from the chamber 51 into the chamber 72.

However, if the pressure is too high the diaphragm will be moved upwards elevating the projection 53 and permitting the annulus 68 to seat against the seat 69 cutting on the flow of air until the pressure again drops.

The reciprocating movement of the diaphragm and of the valve 68 will assure maintenance of proper air pressure in the device throughout operation.

It will be noted that there is a connection at 81 from the chamber 72 to the passageway 82 which connects to the threaded nipple 83 of the pressure gauge M.

The pressure gauge M is mounted through the wall 84 of the head A, and terminates at threaded boss 87, see FIG. 3.

The gauge M will be accessible through the chamber 85 which is covered by the plate 86.

From the chamber-72 the air will flow through hole 94 into the annular passageway 95 which is sealed off inside of the cylindrical recess $6 by the upper gasket 97 and the lower gasket 3.

The air will then tend to flow inwardly through the radial passageways 99 to the valve past the valve seat 100 and into the valve seat passage 161. From the valve seat passageway 101 it will flow into the vertical bore 182 and then out to the lower radial bores 193 and to the annular passage 104 when it will flow through the opening 1135 and the passageway 196 into the chamber V.

The reciprocating valve 107 as seated upon the valve seat 109 will normally cut oil the supply of air to the passageways 102-1il31tl4-106 as shown in FIG. 8.

However, when the armature 168 lifts the valve 197 through action of the solenoid 199 the air may freely flow from the annular chamber 95 to the annular chamber 104 past the valve seat 100.

The armature 108 and the encircling coil 109 are positioned in the chamber 110 which is closed by the cap 111 having the lip 112 fitting in the upper part of the chamber.

The armature will be held in position by the cap 113.

The valve 107 actuated by the armature 108 will either be seated or unseated to admit air and it Will not have the regulating effect of the pressure regulator N.

The air will then pass into the chamber V which is in communication with the reservoir B through the open bottom of the chamber V with the connection being sealed by the gasket 22. This air will exert a pressure on top of the liquid coolant or lubricant in the reservoir in the chamber B (see FIG. 1).

The filter 126 is held between the upper and lower caps 127 and 128 which are clamped down by the cap 129 and the spring 13%) against the central portion 131.

The filtered lubricant or coolant will enter the tube 132 by the opening 133.

The base plate 29 will clamp the cylinder 27 between the gaskets 25 and 144 in liquid-tight fashion to the opening 134 in the bottom of the reservoir B by the drain nut member G.

This drain nut member G is screwed onto the lower threaded end 135 of the tube 132 and it will clamp the plate 29 up against the gasket 144 holding the assembly E in position.

The lower end of the central bore of the member G is tapped as indicated at 136 to receive the threaded plug 137 having the knurled head member 138.

When the member 138 is screwed down until the opening 13? is in communication with the lower part of the chamber 140, it will permit any collection of liquid in the lower part of the tube 132 to be drained out through the bore 141.

When the member 133 is screwed up, the beveled portion 142 will seat against the ridge 143 closing the outlet from the chamber 140.

The reservoir as shown in FIG. 6 has a sight glass C to indicate the level therein.

The sight glass C at its upper and lower ends respectively fits in the sockets 155 and 156 which receive the gaskets 157 and 158.

The lower end of the sight glass is connected by the thimble 159 inserted in the bore 169 into the communicating opening 161 of the reservoir B.

The sight glass C will be held in the recess 162 in the front of the reservoir as indicated best in FIG. 1.

The upper end of the cylindrical sight glass C will be open to the atmosphere through the bored nut 154 which screws in the tapped opening 163 and clamps the gaskets 157 and 158 and the upper and lower ends of the tube C in position.

The tapped opening 163 is closed by the nut 164.

The upper end of the cylindrical sight glass C communicates with the reservoir through the passageway 165.

If it is indicated that additional coolant or lubricant should be applied this may conveniently be done through the opening 166 of FIG. 3 to which a filler cap R may be applied. The air under pressure will then flow out of the chamber V (see FIG. through the tube J, while the coolant or lubricant will flow through the passageways 167 and 168 (see also FIG. 5) into the tube K from whence it will pass into the external conduit system as already described in connection with FIGS. 9, and 11.

The pipe or tube L enables electrical connections to be made to the solenoid control valve shown in FIG. 8.

In the operation the air will be filtered by the ceramic filter S after it has entered by the pipe H and the tube 34 into the chamber 36.

The coolant and lubricant will also be filtered by the filter T as it flows downwardly from the reservoir B inside oi the cylinder E and up through the tube 132.

This air will then pass through the external conduit system and create a spray of lubricant or coolant upon the application points in and around the machine which is to receive coolant or lubricant.

The air pressure will be regulated by the diaphragm 54 and the adjustable spring 57.

Air will be cut oit or turned on by the operation of the solenoid valve Q.

The pressure gauge M will always give an accurate indication of the pressure in the reservoir B.

The apparatus as shown is particularly designed, for the spray application of coolants, to cutting and grinding operations or for the application of oil to chains, gears and other points to be lubricated.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the 6 same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed:

What is claimed is:

1. A central pressure and control unit for supplying air on one hand and lubricant and coolant liquid on the other hand to a plurality of applicator units, coolant liquid and air flowing through separate lines to said applicator units under the same pressure and being first mixed and applied as a spray at said applicator units, comprising a unit head, a lubricant and coolant reservoir depending from and mounted on the head, cylindrical depending chambers from the base of, the reservoir serving respectively as an air receptacle and a liquid receptacle, said liquid receptacle communicating with said reservoir, a conduit system including separate air pressure and coolant inlets and outlets in the unit and having air conduits leading from the air pressure inlet through the reservoir to the air receptacle, and from the air receptacle to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the air outlet and also having coolant conduits from the coolant inlet in the liquid receptacle to the coolant outlet, said conduit system supplying air under pressure to said air receptacle and then to said reservoir and also supplying the air and liquid under pressure to outlets carried by said liquid receptacle to said units.

2. A central pressure and control unit for supplying air on one hand and lubricant and coolant liquid on the other hand to a plurality of applicator units, coolant liquid and air flowing through separate lines to said applicator units under the same pressure and being first mixed and applied as a spray at said applicator units, comprising a unit head, a lubricant and coolant reservoir depending from and mounted on the head, cylindrical depending chambers from the base of the reservoir serving respectively as an air receptacle and a liquid receptacle, said liquid receptacle communicating with said reservoir, a conduit system including separate air pressure and coolant inlets and outlets in the unit and having air conduits leading from the air pressure inlet through the reservoir to the air receptacle, and from the air receptacle to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the air outlet and also having coolant conduits from the coolant inlet in the liquid receptacle to the coolant outlet, said conduit system supplying air under pressure to said air receptacle and then to said reservoir and also supplying the air and liquid under pressure to outlets carried by said liquid receptacle and to said units, said conduit system also receiving a pressure regulating unit and a solenoid control valve to allow and cut ofi the flow from the air receptacle to the reservoir.

3. A central pressure and control unit for supplying air on one hand and lubricant and coolant liquid on the other hand to a plurality of applicator units, coolant liquid and air flowing through separate lines to said applicator units under the same pressure and being first mixed and applied as a spray at said applicator units, comprising a unit head, a lubricant and coolant reservoir depending from and mounted on the head, cylindrical depending chambers item the base of the reservoir serving respectively as an air receptacle and a liquid receptacle, said liquid receptacle communicating with said reservoir, a conduit system including separate air pres sure and coolant inlets and outlets in the unit and having air conduits leading from the air pressure inlet through the reservoir to the air receptacle, and from the air receptacle to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the air outlet and also having coolant conduits from the coolant inlet in the liquid receptacle to the coolant outlet, said conduit system supplying air under pressure to said air receptacle and then to said reservoir and also supplying the air and liquid under pressure to outlets carried by said liquid receptacle and to said units, and said reseraorasss voir carrying said receptacles and receiving vertical tubulat conduits extending between the head and the receptacles and forming outlet conduits from said receptacles to the head and also to hold and support said receptacles.

4. A central pressure and control unit for supplying air on one hand and lubricant and coolant liquid on the other hand to a plurality of applicator units, coolant liquid and air flowing through separate lines to said applicator units under the same pressure and being first mixed and applied as a spray at said applicator units, comprising a unit head, a lubricant and coolant reservoir depending from and mounted on the head, cylindrical depending chambers from the base of the reservoir serving respectively as an air receptacle and a liquid receptacle, said liquid receptacle communicating with said reservoir, a conduit system including separate air pressure and coolant inlets and outlets in the unit and having air conduits leading from the air pressure inlet through 'the reservoir to the air receptacle, and from the air receptacle to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the air outlet and also having coolant conduits from the coolant inlet in the liquid receptacle to the coolant outlet, said conduit system supplying air under pressure to said air receptacle and then to said reservoir and also supplying the air and liquid under pressure to outlets carried by said liquid receptacle and to said units, said receptacles consisting of parallel cylindrical chambers having central tubular outlet members, the lower parts of said receptacles receiving drain outlets.

5. A central pressure and control unit for supplying air on one hand and lubricant and coolant liquid on the other hand to a plurality of applicator units, coolant liquid and air flowing through separate lines to said applicator units under the same pressure and being first mixed and applied as a spray at said applicator units,

comprising a unit head, a lubricant and coolant reservoir depending from and mounted on the head, cylindrical depending chambers from the base of the reservoir serving respectively as an air receptacle and a liquid receptacle, said liquid receptacle communicating with said reservoir, a conduit system including separate air pressure and coolant inlets and outlets in the unit and having air conduits leading from the air pressure inlet through supplying the air and liquid under pressure to outlets carried by said liquid receptacle and to said units, said unit having a single air pressure inlet at one end of the head and separate air pressure and liquid coolant outlets at the other end of the head.

6. A central pressure and control unit for supplying air on one hand and lubricant and coolant liquid on the other hand to a plurality of applicator units, coolant liquid and air flowing through the separate lines to said applicator units under the same pressure and being first mixed and applied as a spray at said applicator units, comprising a unit head, a lubricant and coolant reservoir depending from and mounted on the head, cylindrical depending chambers from the base of the reservoir serving respectively as an air receptacle and a liquid receptacle, said liquid receptacle communicating with pressure and coolant inlets and outlets in the unit and having air conduits leading from the air pressure inlet through the reservoir to the air receptacle, and from the air receptacle to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the air outlet and also having coolant conduits from the coolant inlet in the liquid receptacle to the coolant outlet, said conduit system supplying air under pressure to said air receptacle and then to said reservoir and also supplying the air and liquid under pressure to outlets carried by said liquid receptacle and to said applicator units, said unit being provided with a pressure regulator and a solenoid valve accessible for adjustment at the top of the head.

7. In a coolant air pressure distribution system, a central pressure source having a head, a coolant reservoir having a bottom mounted on and depending from said head and auxiliary air and coolant compartments depending from the bottom of said reservoir, separate inlets and outlets in the head for the coolant and air pressure, an air inlet to said head, a coolant inlet in said head communicating with said reservoir for filling said reservoir, an air outlet in said head communicating with said reservoir and a coolant outlet in said head, a first conduit having an inlet and an outlet, said first conduit inlet being in communi ation with said air inlet, and said first conduit outlet being in communication with said auxiliary air comparment, a second conduit having an inlet and an outlet, said second conduit inlet being in communication with said auxiliary air compartment and said second conduit outlet being in said head, passageways in said head establishing communication between said secair and coolant entering said second and third conduits respectively shall pass through said strainers.

9. The source of claim 7, said head carrying an air pressure regulating valve, a pressure gauge and a solenoid cut-oft valve in said passageways establishing communication between said second conduit outlct and said reservoir.

10. The source of claim 7, comprising further drain means at the bottom of said auxiliary compartments to drain residue from said compartments.

11. The source of claim 7, the bottom of said head being provided with a recess having a gasket therein for air and liquid tight connection to said reservoir and the bottom of said reservoir having recesses with gaskets therein for liquid and airtight connections to said compartments.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,524 Bystricky Feb. 12, 1935 2,730,269 Earle et a1 Jan. 10, 1956 2,865,469 Lyden Dec.'23, 1958 2,868,584 Faust Q Jan. 13, 1959 

1. A CENTRAL PRESSURE AND CONTROL UNIT FOR SUPPLYING AIR ON ONE HAND AND LUBRICANT AND COOLANT LIQUID ON THE OTHER HAND TO A PLURALITY OF APPLICATOR UNITS, COOLANT LIQUID AND AIR FLOWING THROUGH SEPARATE LINES TO SAID APPLICATOR UNITS UNDER THE SAME PRESSURE AND BEING FIRST MIXED AND APPLIED AS A SPRAY AT SAID APPLICATOR UNITS, COMPRISING A UNIT HEAD, A LUBRICANT AND COOLANT RESERVOIR DEPENDING FROM AND MOUNTED ON THE HEAD, CYLINDRICAL DEPENDING CHAMBERS FROM THE BASE OF THE RESERVOIR SERVING RESPECTIVELY AS AN AIR RECEPTACLE AND A LIQUID RECEPTACLE, SAID LIQUID RECEPTACLE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RESERVOIR, A CONDUIT SYSTEM INCLUDING SEPARATE AIR PRESSURE AND COOLANT INLETS AND OUTLETS IN THE UNIT AND HAVING AIR CONDUITS LEADING FROM THE AIR PRESSURE INLET THROUGH THE RESERVOIR TO THE AIR RECEPTACLE, AND FROM THE AIR RECEPTACLE TO THE RESERVOIR AND FROM THE RESERVOIR TO THE AIR OUTLET AND ALSO HAVING COOLANT CONDUITS FROM THE COOLANT INLET IN THE LIQUID RECEPTACLE TO THE COOLANT OUTLET, SAID CONDUIT SYSTEM SUPPLYING AIR UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID AIR RECEPTACLE AND THEN TO SAID RESERVOIR AND ALSO SUPPLYING THE AIR AND LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE TO OUTLETS CARRIED BY SAID LIQUID RECEPTACLE TO SAID UNITS. 